Welcome to the National Runaway Safeline Forum, where you can post your questions, thoughts, and concerns about what it's like to be a teenager or a parent. If there's something you've been wondering about, please ask. Chances are good that a lot of other people have been wondering the same thing.

Hi I’m 15 yrs old i live in Texas and I been thinking about running away from home I was thinking about staying with a friend but I realized if I’d got caught they would get in trouble for Harboring a runaway and I don’t want that so idk there I would go if I run away from home I been trying to find the odds but seemed to me there not helping. Is there anything that my parents can do if I run besides file a runaway report to the police? My friend told if i run away all the police can do is send me back home unless I don’t feel like I’m in a safe environment. The reason why I want to run away is bc of my stepmom she overdose on pills n even took some of my ADHD pills that are Prescribe to me, none of my family likes her and my brother tried for 3 yrs to get my dad to divorce her but my dad never did. I been off and on about thinking about running away but I never had the encourage to. Is there any place I can go to if I do runaway? Would they get in trouble for keeping me and not turning me in? I need answers by tonight. Thank you

IP

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Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension. Your friend was correct in that if your dad does file a runaway report all the police would do would be to return you home. If you explained to the police that you felt unsafe at home they may let you stay where you are but an investigation would be opened with Child Protective Services. Some areas offer youth shelters or transitional living centers focused on longer-term youth housing and there may be an organization like that near you. To look into this option please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

I’m 15 and i have a girlfriend who is running away and wants to pick me up and take me with her. im not against the idea of leaving and getting to be with her considering it’s long distance. my 18 year old brother wants to move back in and it’s making me stressed because he made me smoke, drink and get tattoos with him starting when i was 11. so i don’t want him back. if he moves back, i’m going to agree to leave with my girlfriend. if he doesn’t, i won’t go with her.

IP

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Thank you for reaching out to NRS, we will be happy to help in the best way that we can. We’re sorry to hear about what’s been going on! It must be really stressful dealing with such a tough situation. We really appreciate you coming to us for help, if you were to leave with your girlfriend and your parents were to file a runaway report considering your age you are still a minor therefore your parents are legally responsible for you. If a report was filed and you were found by police there is the possibility that you could get sent back to live with your parents. You’ve mentioned that you don’t want your brother to move back in, we understand how stressful that must be but we have to understand that we cannot change what other people want to do but it could be a good option to have this conversation with your parents and let them know about how him moving in makes you feel. If you don’t feel comfortable doing that by yourself, here at NRS we have the option called conference calling and what that would look like is you would call out to us (1-800-RUNAWAY) and we would set up a 2 way call between you and your parents that would be mediated by one of our trained staff to make sure that the call is kept calm, constructive and professional.
All the best,
NRS

I’m 15 and I’m emotionally abused at home and was going down a bad path but I met my bestfriend that really motivates me to do be better. I have been doing better with her help but my grandma hates seeing me happy and doing better. She told me she would call the cops on me if I go there. I go over there when me and her get into big fights and she’s hates it. I cant handle it anymore and I’m planing to run away to my bestfriends but I don’t want to get her or her mom in trouble with the cops.

IP

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Thanks for reaching out. It sounds like you’re coping with a very difficult living situation. Before we answer your question, please know that abuse is never okay, and you deserve to live a safe and happy life without fear of abuse. You may consider filing an abuse report by calling Child Help at 1-800-422-4453 or contacting them online at childhelp.org. If you have questions about that we’d be happy to help. We can even file the abuse report on your behalf if you’d prefer to contact us.

We will try our best to answer your question, but please understand we are not legal experts. Typically, what happens when you run away from home is that it’s considered a status offense rather than a crime. Depending on your state and even your local law enforcement, if you are picked up as a runaway, you could be punished and returned to your home.
Although it is rare, if you are staying with an adult (such as your best friend’s parents), they could be charged with a crime called harboring a runaway. This doesn’t happen very often but it is a possibility.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to say what will happen, but these are some of the possibilities. If you want to make a plan to stay safe, or even if you just have more questions or want to talk, please don’t hesitate to contact us through our live chat or call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

um im 15 and im ready to run away from a very abusive family, if i were to run away and stay with a friend who is also a minor with his parents, what trouble could the parents get into even if they were just trying to help or thought i was just there for vacation or something?

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We are really glad you reached out to NRS for help. Abuse of any kind is not okay, and it is completely understandable you would want to leave home if you are not feeling safe.

We are not legal experts, but we can share some general information. If you leave home without permission, your parents do have the right to file a runaway report. Running away is not illegal and you would not be arrested. It means that if the police know where you are, they will return you home. It is a possibility that your parents could try charging your friend's parents with harboring a runaway. From what we know these charges are rare and usually only happen when people lie to the parents or the police about housing someone who was reported as a runaway.

Since you mentioned that your family is abusive, you are able to file an abuse report. It can be an intimidating decision to make and we are always available if you want to talk to someone more about it. If you would like to go this route or you just want some more information about what the reporting process looks like, you can call the national child abuse hotline at 1-800-422-4453 or go to www.childhelp.org.

Please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-786-2929 or chat with us through our website if you want to talk more about your situation and explore your options.

Hi I’ve been thinking about running away because I have a pretty big problem with being around people, including my family. In big groups or conversations I get all tremble-y and my pulse rises, then my mind just goes blank. I feel like nowhere is safe. I’ve tried to address this to my parents but they refuse to take action. I’m not sure if it’s Social Anxiety Disorder or anything, but I’m finding it hard to withstand and I’m beginning to develop a fear of my brother. I just want to get away from it all and restart. I’m not sure if running away is the option I’m looking for, but I’m still looking into it. I’ve never done a forum or anything before, so I hope I am doing this right. I’m confused, so what do I do?

IP

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Thanks for reaching out to us; it's very brave of you to open up about personal stuff like this. It also sounds like you really want help. That shows you care about your life, and that's so important. You're also very self-aware. We are here to help in whatever way we can.

Of course, we can't tell you what to do, but we can explore some options with you to help you figure out what YOU want to do. Even though we are not therapists, it sounds like you are having some issues with anxiety right now. It's too bad your parents are not taking your request for help more seriously. It's understandable that you might want to escape a situation that is not working for you right now.

Running away is a really big decision with lots of questions to answer. Questions like: How will I support myself? Where will I live? How will my family react? What about school? On top of all that, keep in mind that there is no guarantee that running away will solve the anxiety you are feeling around other people. It's possible the anxiety could even become worse because of all the uncertainties involved with running away.

Ultimately, you can decide how you will handle this situation. Some other possibilities might be: talking to a friend or adult you trust about what you're going through, mentioning the feelings you have to a school counselor or teacher, or giving us a call. In fact, calling us is the best way we can help you figure out what you'd like to do. We have a large database of resources: counselors, shelters, other hotlines, etc. In some states you may even be able to meet with a counselor for a certain number of sessions without your parent's knowing. Of course, we can just talk as well. We are okay with just listening, and are confidential and non-judgmental. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY and we're here 24/7. If you feel more comfortable chatting, you can use our chatroom by visiting our main webpage: www.1800runaway.org and clicking on the chat feature at the top of the page.

I'm 15 and I recently got into some big trouble with my parents and I tried to kill myself and now I'm in even bigger trouble with my dad and I have been thinking about running away for a couple of days. I was going to do it after school but I didn't know if I could get arrested. I tried to go to a family member home and stay there for a while but my dad won't let me and they live too far to go myself. so I decided my only option was to leave myself and possibly stay at a friends house. I don't know what to do. my dad took away my phone and I would like to have it before I leave so I contact in an emergency but there is no way I could get it from him

IP

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We're so sorry you're having a tough time with your parents, even to the point of attempting suicide. Most importantly, we do want you to be safe. If you ever are feeling like killing yourself again we hope you can reach out either to us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or, if you are in immediate danger, just dial 911.

It sounds like you are thinking about running away. That's certainly a big decision and it's great you are reaching out to us to get some information and support. Just so you know, running away is not a crime but it is a status offense. So, in and of itself, you can't get arrested simply for running away. But you can be detained by police until they release you to your parents. More seriously, anyone you stay with could be accused of harboring a runaway, which is a crime. We don't tell anyone what to do, but you should at least know this before you make a decision.

Perhaps there is a way to make the situation a bit better that doesn't include running away. Or, even if you do decide to run, we are here to help support you in any way we can. The best way for us to do that is if you give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY. We have a large database of resources, things like counselors, shelters, and the like. Another option would be to call us and we could act as mediators in a conference call between you and your parents. We wouldn't take sides, but we would advocate that you be respectfully heard and try to work with you and your parents to come to some resolution that is agreeable to all.

We hope to hear from you soon. You could also chat with us by clicking on the chat feature on the main page of our website: https://www.1800runaway.org/

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Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. It may also be a good place to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

I'm 15, my parents are trying to send me to a mental hospital, and maybe even put me back in foster care. I'm trying to get to Florida from Texas. My parents are definitely gonna file the report. But they took away my happiness and now they're taking my hard earned money. Also I'm not allowed to go out anymore like I can't have human contact, I'm home schooled and can't even go to the store with them the only human contact I have is when I walk my neighbors dog which I get payed for by him. Is there a shelter I could go? Or could I go to the cops without getting into trouble? I don't want to live here anymore so could I call someone other than a hotline? I need to leave and I'm going to leave I just need to know if I'll get in trouble or where I could go since I don't have a place

IP

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Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. The way that your parents are forcing you to live sounds stifling, unfair, and unhealthy. We would be happy to help you look for somewhere else you could live or talk about what kind of options you have. We do have a database of shelter resources around the country that we can look through for you. You are definitely welcome to call the police if you feel like the situation you are in is dangerous, though what they can do might be limited. With regards to getting into trouble, it is NOT illegal to run away. Unless you are doing something illegal as a runaway or if you have a history with law enforcement, you should not be arrested or charged with anything if you run away. Your parents can file a runaway report with the police if you do leave, but that would just mean that the police would notify your guardian and take you home if they encounter you. If you want to ask anything else or talk about what you can do right now, please call us at 1-800-786-2929 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

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Hello,
Thank you for writing to us here at the National Runaway Safeline.

We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you are trying to decide what to do about leaving home or staying but have some questions. Though we can understand being frustrated by a situation it’s good that you are taking your time in making a decision. One thing we can say is that running away probably will cause changes as to how you will survive. Here are some things you might consider. Where you will stay? How will you eat? How do you keep yourself safe? Basically the question you might ask of yourself is: Will running away make my situation better or worse?
One that might help during a difficult time is by making a check list to see if you have done all that you can to resolve whatever conflict you might be having about something or someone. Next is to examine how you have attempted to do this. Consider what the best form of communication is to get across your feelings about the situation. you don't deserve to be abused and it's not your fault that this is happening. You did a good thing by reaching out.
It's important that you remember to exercise self- care. It is times like these that it would be nice to have a listening ear.

We would like to be of assistance to you if we can.
We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.

If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to or seek emergency assistance immediately. To report any forms of abuse contact Child Help 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org
We hope to hear from you soon.

Take care,
NRS

Please remember you can reach us directly by calling our 24 hour hotline, 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or through our Live Chat.

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I'm 14 and there's a lot going on in my life. I'm tired of it. And one of the problems, I hatlve to admit that it's my parents. I wanna suicide and it's ittter not to give up my life and so I'm going to decide the best option- running away. No one would understand what I'm going through . Please help me.

IP

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Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension. It can be really hard to feel like you're alone in your struggles and that no one would understand and we want you to know that we are here for you. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

You mentioned that you want to suicide. We care a lot about your safety, and we can help you find resources that can help you cope with these feelings. You do not have to face this alone, and there is so much help out there for you. If you are thinking about hurting yourself, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline could be a good resource for you. You can check them out at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/, or you can call 1-800-273-8255 for help and support any time.

If you’d like to go over the issues with your parents or other things going on in your life, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

Hi I'm 15 and I want to run away because I cant stand being here anymore. I live with my half brother step dad and step mom. And my step dad favors my half brother and anything he does he gets praise for and he never gets in trouble. And when I do anything I get yelled at and I get everything taken from me. I feel like I cant tell them anything. And the only time I am happy is when I am not at home. I cant do this anymore and I need to get out of here and I have nowhere to go other than a friends house but I dont want to get them in trouble. I cant go to my mom because she is crazy and lives in Florida and i live in Colorado. I just dont know what to do and i feel like i am alone and the only people i have are my friends but i cant even talk to them truthfully because my step dad reads all of my messages and phone calls and I'm not allowed to see them. I dont want to die but I'm afraid if I stay here I will end up doing it.

IP

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Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. It might be a good idea to possibly look for support groups within your school or even finding an adult you trust to see if there is anything they can do to help you or even help you get through the rough verbal abuse you are going through. Please know you have the right to report abuse your safety should be your first priority. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
Be safe,
NRS

Im 16 I’ve been a run away for about 3 months for the 3rd time from my adopted family but I really wanna go to school so I was thinking of putting myself in a group will i do time in juvey before I can get myself in a group home ? Please answer as soon as you can

IP

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Thank you for reaching out to us. It’s a good thing that despite the challenges you may be experiencing that you still want to make sure you go to school and receive your education. It seems like you are worried about if you would get in trouble if you tried to enroll in school. We are not legal experts but there is a McKinney-Vento Homeless Act. This act ensures that you have rights as a homeless youth to go to school, receive free meals and transportation to and from school.
It seems like you are also concerned that you will get in trouble if you go to a group home because you are a runaway. You won’t be charged with anything as a runaway. They typically return you to your guardians. If you are having issues with your adopted parents and feel unsafe you can contact your case manager, Child Protective Services or Child Help at 1800-422-4453. If you have specific questions that you felt like were not addressed you could always call us at 1800-RUNAWAY. We are here to help and are 24/7. Best of Luck!

i hate where i live and i need help, my stepmom hates me and has made me do super cruel punishment and i would rather be a foster kid. but i feel like making a minor hold a weight as a punishment is abuse but she hit me today because i was talking and she is always calling me names . i just hate it here . i was thinking about running away to the police station and telling them ... idk ..... i wanna be a foster kid .

IP

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Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time right now. If you feel that this is abuse you can make an abuse report by contacting your local police or by calling Child Help at: 1800-422-4453. You can always go to the police station and ask them what your options are. You could also always talk with your school counselor and they may come up with options you have never thought of.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any more questions or would like to discuss options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and provide support. Best of luck to you!
NRS